§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were electrocuted as a direct result of faulty accessories and wiring in domestic premises in each of the years from 1970; and whether he will introduce legislation to require all manufacturers to tit plugs to accessories which are safe and to require similar standards for imported goods.
§ Mr. Alexander FletcherAccording to information supplied by the electricity boards, the number of people recorded as electrocuted as a result of faulty wiring and accessories was:
23W
Year 1970 8 1971 31 1972 24
Year 1973 19 1974 20 1975 22 1976 26 1977 17 1978 10 1979 15 1980 10 1981 8 1982 14 *1983 13 * To September. The information does not show that these accidents were due to defects in plugs or other accessories at the time they were sold.
I am not aware of any cases in which faulty plugs fitted by manufacturers to other accessories have caused electrocution but I will look into any evidence of this, if my hon. Friend would supply it, and consider whether the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1975 and 1976 would have been contravened.